Nine-year government work report summarizes why new energy vehicles have become clean new energy vehicles

In the "Government Work Report" made by Premier Li Keqiang this year, the only sentence that specifically mentions "car" appears in the third part of the report "Key Tasks for 2017". Among them, the seventh item "Intensify efforts in ecological and environmental protection management" put forward three major measures - resolutely fight against the blue skies; strengthen water and soil pollution control; promote ecological protection and construction. In expounding “Resolutely defending against the blue skies,” the report stated that “we must strengthen the control of motor vehicle exhaust, basically eliminate yellow-label vehicles, accelerate the elimination of old motor vehicles, carry out special rectification of high-emission vehicles, and encourage the use of clean energy vehicles. Accelerate the promotion of the use of the Sixth National Standard Fuel in key areas."

It can be seen that the government's basic appeal point in the automobile field is still reducing emissions and pollution. This has become an integral part of the environmental protection proposal put forward by the current government. However, many people have noticed that the car vocabulary used in this year's report has changed - clean energy vehicles, for the first time in the government work report.

Let us first review the relevant contents of the "Government Work Report" in previous years:

2016: Active used car market, vigorously develop and promote new energy vehicles based on electric vehicles, and accelerate the construction of urban parking lots and charging facilities.

2015: We must fight for energy-saving, emission reduction and environmental governance. Environmental pollution is the pain of the people’s livelihood and the people’s hearts. It must be iron-handed. Promote new energy vehicles, control motor vehicle exhaust, improve oil product standards and quality, and provide comprehensive supply of national five-standard vehicle gasoline and diesel in key cities in key regions. The yellow-labeled vehicles registered for operation before the end of 2005 should all be eliminated. Actively respond to climate change and expand carbon emissions trading pilots.

2014: Promotion of new energy vehicles to accelerate the development of new energy vehicle industry, promote energy conservation and emission reduction, and promote air pollution prevention and control. Focusing on mega cities and regions where smog is frequent, taking the control of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and particulate matter (PM10) as breakthroughs, we will seize key links such as industrial structure, energy efficiency, exhaust emissions and dust, and improve the government. , enterprises, and the public participated in the new mechanism, implemented joint prevention and control at the regional level, and thoroughly implemented the air pollution prevention action plan.

In 2013: Urban residents owned 21.5 family cars per 100 households, an increase of 15.5 units over 2007; a number of strategic emerging industries such as clean energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, new generation information technology, biomedicine, and high-end equipment manufacturing are rapidly developing.

In 2012: To develop high-end equipment manufacturing, energy conservation and environmental protection, biomedicine, new energy vehicles, and new materials. Promote energy conservation, emission reduction and ecological environment protection.

2011: To promote the development of industries such as energy conservation and environmental protection, new energy, biology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, and new energy vehicles. Promote the clean use of traditional energy, strengthen the construction of smart grids, and vigorously develop clean energy. Strengthen energy conservation, environmental protection and ecological construction and actively respond to climate change.

2010: To develop new energy, new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection, biomedicine, information network and high-end manufacturing industries. Actively promote the new energy vehicles, "three networks" to achieve substantial progress in the integration, and accelerate the development and application of the Internet of Things. Increase investment and policy support for strategic emerging industries.

2009: A number of national engineering centers, key laboratories and enterprise technology centers have been established in the areas of information, biology and environmental protection. Successfully developed a number of key technologies and major equipment such as regional aircraft, new energy vehicles and high-speed railways. Support and promote new energy, biology, medicine, E-generation mobile communications, triple play, energy saving and environmental protection technology development and industrialization.

In 2008: Focused on breakthroughs in key energy technologies such as new energy vehicles, high-speed rail transit, and water saving for agriculture and industry.

It can be seen that from 2008 to now, almost every year in the government work report, we must mention "new energy vehicles" and emphasize the necessity and urgency of development. Only 2013 and 2017 are exceptions. When the “Government Work Report” in 2013 mentioned “accelerate economic restructuring and improve the quality and efficiency of economic development”, the increase in car ownership per 100 households was taken as an example, and at the same time, it was necessary to clarify clean energy as a strategic emerging industry. development of. In 2017, it was proposed to "encourage the use of clean energy vehicles."

Let us carefully observe the "wording" in the report in recent years. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, for three consecutive years, it was pointed out that “promoting new energy vehicles”, especially in 2016, emphasized the promotion of new energy vehicles based on electric vehicles and accelerated the construction of infrastructure. So, this year, why didn’t the report mention encouraging the use of new energy vehicles, but rather encouraged the use of clean energy vehicles?

In fact, the two concepts are different for new energy vehicles and clean energy vehicles.

New energy vehicles usually refer to the use of unconventional vehicle fuels as a source of power (or the use of conventional vehicle fuels, the use of new vehicle-mounted power devices), advanced technologies for the control and drive of integrated vehicles, and advanced technological principles. New technology, new structure of the car. This includes pure electric vehicles, extended-range electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other new energy vehicles. In recent years, with the introduction and guidance of China's subsidy policy on new energy vehicles, the industry has generally positioned itself as a pure electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

In contrast, the category of clean energy vehicles is much broader. It is a generic term for eco-friendly vehicles that replace traditional gasoline with clean fuel. It can use various technologies to effectively reduce the energy consumption of automobiles and the emission of harmful substances in exhaust gases, which will greatly reduce the impact on the environment caused by the use of automobiles. Simply put, in addition to new energy vehicles in the general sense, natural gas vehicles, methanol cars, ethanol cars, solar cars, and other cars with "environmental qualities" should all belong to clean energy vehicles.

From this point of view, this year's government work report does not mention "new energy vehicles", and changing "clean energy vehicles" will necessarily imply profound implications.

First of all, no mention of new energy vehicles does not mean that they do not develop or encourage them. Instead, they “cool down” and “red light” to act quickly, blindly, and blindly, prompting the pace of development to be firmer and more stable. As early as 2010, the country established new energy vehicles as one of the seven strategic emerging industries, and increased policy support to set up special funds. Driven by the subsidy policy, the production and sales volume of China's new energy vehicles have grown rapidly in recent years, becoming the highlight of the development of the auto industry under the new normal economy, and it has surpassed the United States as the world's largest producer and seller of new energy vehicles. Nowadays, the "wild" development period of new energy vehicles has passed. With the adjustment of subsidy policies, the gradual decline of the subsidy policy, and the gradual transition to the integration policy, the new energy automobile industry will shift from excessive pursuit of sales to technology, quality, market, and service. overall enhancement. Regardless of whether it is specifically mentioned in the government work report, new energy vehicles will develop rapidly, but the focus of development will shift from "quantity" to "quality."

Second, too much emphasis on "new energy vehicles" has, to a certain extent, hit the industry's enthusiasm for research and development, promotion of other types of clean energy vehicles, and even energy-saving cars. In fact, China has long had relatively mature experience in promoting natural gas, methanol, and ethanol vehicles. It also has relatively complete facilities for fuel production, storage, transportation, and filling. Some car companies have also launched relatively mature and applicable vehicles. Under the upsurge of pure electric vehicles in recent years, the pace has stagnated, and it is showing a tendency of being "marginalized." In contrast, markets in other countries usually encourage multiple legs and parallel routes. After the Chinese government is aware of the negative effects brought about by the “pure electric boom”, it may change its thinking and launch some effective measures to encourage the use of clean energy vehicles other than pure electric power, or to carry out some useful demonstrations to promote it. The change in the wording of the government work report can be seen as a "signal."

It is worth mentioning that Li Shufu, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of Geely Group, submitted a proposal to “accelerate the promotion of methanol cars” for the two sessions this year. Li Shufu said that methanol vehicles have 80% less emissions than gasoline engines, and methanol storage is also more convenient. The price is much lower than gasoline, which can save costs by about 40%. At the same time, after a long period of development, the quality of China's methanol cars has taken the lead in the world, and it also provides conditions for the liberalization of methanol automobile policies. The development of methanol vehicles can reduce emissions and reduce costs. The state should encourage the diversification of energy structures and provide space for the development of clean energy.